On March 7, Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi told Canada's foreign affairs minister, John Baird, that bogus voters' lists were threatening to undermine Burna's upcoming landmark elections. That was the day Baird conferred honourary Canadian citizenship on the 66-year-old democracy activist, who on Sunday (April 1) won a seat in Burma's (a.k.a. Myanmar's) new parliament in an incremental step toward real democracy in a country long deprived of it.
Baird said he was "very concerned" about the information shared by Suu Kyi. However, when you're part of a governing party that is being investigated for bogus phone calls aimed at dissuading likely opposition voters from casting ballots, it's tough to claim you represent the highest democratic ideals. Yes, we don't yet know whether any Conservative Party higher-ups were involved in the robocalls scandal. But Suu Kyi might wish to consider setting her ambitions for her country's future a bit higher.
This, after the Tories last week opened a second front in the attack on Canada's democratic institutions. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's budget includes $8 million to help the Canada Revenue Agency "monitor and restrict environmental groups from sending out emails to supporters and other activities that are considered to be political in nature" (Postmedia News).
Of all the measures that aim to weaken environmental regulations and clear the way for Enbridge's, and the Tories', precious Northern Gateway pipeline across B.C., this one is most egregious, as it represents a full frontal attack on Canadians' right to free speech.
Under the measure, non-profit groups will be required to "provide more information on their political activities, including the extent to which these are funded by foreign sources," according to budget documents. The only rule regarding the use of money by non-profits, though, is that they can only use up to 10 per cent for non-partisan political activities. There's no law against foreign funding for non-profits, just as there's no law against foreign vested interests supporting the tar sands, pipelines and such.
At a time of austerity, the Tories are providing $8 million for what? To muzzle their political foes, the same way they've muzzled government scientists whose data may make explaining their policy decisions the tiniest bit uncomfortable. Except that Canadians who oppose the pipeline aren't on their payroll, so Harper and his gang have to find another way to shut them up.
We're sorry, but John Baird and his party are hardly an example for the world's long-suffering masses yearning for true democracy to emulate.
- David Burke
